A Jesse Tree

For those unfamiliar with this tradition, a small tree is used to hang one symbolic ornament for each day of Advent. Some ideas for devotions and creating ornaments are featured in their site. Dating from sometime in Medieval times the symbols of the decorations depict the Messianic thread of Jesus throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Would you like home-printed ornaments to use? a PDF file for Jesse ornaments. You need the Adobe Reader to view it.

Symbols

Adam and Eve: Apple (Genesis 2:4-3:24)

Noah: Ark or rainbow (Genesis 6:11-22, 7:17-8:12, 20-9:17)

Abraham: Knife (Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6)

Isaac: Ram (Genesis 22:1-19)

Jacob: Ladder (Genesis 27:41-28:22)

Joseph: Colorful coat (Genesis 37, 39:1-50:21)

Moses: Tablets of the law (Exodus 2:1-4:20)

David: Harp (1 Samuel 16:17-23)

Isaiah: Lion and lamb (Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7)

Mary: Lily (Luke 1:26-38)

Elizabeth: Small home (Luke 1:39-55)

Joseph: Hammer or saw (Matthew 1:18-25)

For a complete list of all Jesse tree symbols, bible verses, and links to my Zazzle ornament designs, go to the Jesse Tree Page on this site. I incorporated this tradition into the devotional theme of year 2011.